Multimedia data transfer for a personal communication device

ABSTRACT

In a portable multimedia device, data is passed between a sender and receiver unit by way of voice channel only. Multimedia data is vocalized and then forwarded to a receiver unit by way of the voice channel without the use of a backend server. Once received at the receiver unit, the vocalized data can be converted to an audio signal that can then output by way of an audio output device (such as a speaker, earphone, etc.).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates generally to multimedia devices. Morespecifically, the invention describes a system for providing multimediadata to a mobile personal communication device. Such devices include butare not limited to cell phones, walkie-talkies, etc.

2. Description of Related Art

Recent developments in consumer electronics have included theintroduction of portable personal communication devices such as cellphones, personal walkie-talkies, and the like. In some cases, it wouldbe desirable for a user of one of these personal communication devicesto be able to transmit to another user having a similar device,multimedia data over a voice channel connecting the two devices. Such asystem would be especially helpful for those users having impairedvision where reading a text message, for example, is difficult.

What is required is a system that provides for vocalization ofmultimedia data by a personal communication device for transmission overan associated voice channel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention described herein pertains to method of transferringmultimedia data between personal communication devices by vocalizing themultimedia data by a first personal communication device, passing thevocalized multimedia data to a second personal communication deviceusing only a voice channel, and receiving the vocalized multimedia databy the second personal communication device.

In another embodiment, a consumer product suitable transferringmultimedia data between personal communication devices without a backendserver is described that includes a memory device arranged to store themultimedia data, a display coupled to the memory device suitable fordisplaying the multimedia data, a wireless interface arranged toestablish a voice channel between the consumer product and any of thepersonal communication devices and an audio output device for outputtingan audible signal. A processor fetches the multimedia data from thememory, vocalizes the multimedia data and passes the vocalizedmultimedia data to the wireless interface that subsequently passes thevocalized multimedia data by way of the voice channel to at least one ofthe personal communication devices.

Computer program product executable by a processor for transferringmultimedia data between personal communication devices without a backendserver, is also described. The computer program product includescomputer code for vocalizing the multimedia data by a first personalcommunication device, computer code for passing the vocalized multimediadata to a second personal communication device using only a voicechannel, computer code for receiving the vocalized multimedia data bythe second personal communication device and computer readable mediumfor storing the computer code.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary portable multimedia device in accordance withan embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 shows a system having a cell phone arranged to passvocalized multimedia data to a receiver unit in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart illustrating a particular process fortransferring multimedia data over a voice channel in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart detailing a process for receiving vocalizedmultimedia data in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart detailing a process for forwarding thevocalized multimedia data to a voicemail server in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment of theinvention. An example of the preferred embodiment is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. While the invention will be described inconjunction with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that itis not intended to limit the invention to one preferred embodiment. Tothe contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, andequivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

With the rapid deployment, proliferation, and technical advancement ofmobile personal communication devices, such as cell phones, a user ofthese devices is presented with any number of ways to communicate withanother user. For example, a user can send type a text message using,for example, Short Message Service-Point to Point (SMS-PP) protocol asdefined in GSM recommendation 03.40 where messages are sent via astore-and forward mechanism to a Short Message Service Center (SMSC),which will attempt to send the message to the recipient and possiblyretry if the user is not reachable at a given moment. Therefore, SMS-PPrequires the use of a backend server to provide the necessary supportfor transmission of data between sender and receiver.

The invention, however, provides a mechanism whereby data is passedbetween a sender and receiver unit by way of voice channel onlybypassing use of the data channel used in conventional arrangements. Inthis way, a sender can select that data which he/she desires to send toa receiver unit using by first converting the data into an appropriatevocal/voice format which is then forwarded to a receiver unit by way ofthe voice channel. Once received at the receiver unit, the vocalizeddata can be converted to an audio signal, which is then output by way ofan audio output device (such as a speaker, earphone, etc.). Thisarrangement is particularly well suited for people having visualproblems or in those situations where viewing the data on a smalldisplay screen (typical of most personal communication devices) isproblematic.

In one embodiment, In a particular embodiment, the personalcommunication device is a pocket sized cell phone that in addition tothe standard voice function of a telephone can support many additionalservices such as SMS for text messaging packet switching for access tothe Internet and MMS for sending and receiving photos and video.

Accordingly, FIG. 1 shows an exemplary personal communication device 100(such as a cell phone) in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. The cell phone 100 includes a processor 102 that pertains toa microprocessor or controller for controlling the overall operation ofthe cell phone 100 that stores data in a RAM 104 and a Read-Only Memory(ROM) 106. The ROM 106 can store programs, utilities or processes to beexecuted in a non-volatile manner whereas the RAM 104 provides volatiledata storage such as currently called phone numbers, ring tones, etc.The cell phone 100 also includes a user input device 108 that allows auser to interact with the cell phone 100. For example, the user inputdevice 108 can take a variety of forms, such as a button, keypad, dial,etc. Still further, the cell phone 100 includes a display 110 (screendisplay) that can be controlled by the processor 102 to displayinformation to the user. A data bus can facilitate data transfer betweenat least the ROM 106, RAM 104, the processor 102, and a CODEC 112 thatproduces analog output signals for an audio output device 114 (such as aspeaker). The speaker 114 can be a speaker internal to the cell phone100 or external to the cell phone 100. For example, headphones orearphones that connect to the cell phone 100 would be considered anexternal speaker. A wireless interface 116 operates to receiveinformation from the processor 102 that opens a channel (either voice ordata) for transmission and reception typically using RF carrier waves.

FIG. 2 shows a system 200 having a cell phone 202 arranged to passvocalized multimedia data to a receiver unit 204 in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. It should be noted that the system 200 canbe used by any number of cell phones or other compatible personalcommunication devices and is not therefore limited to only theparticular embodiment shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, when the cell phone202 is actively displaying multimedia data 206 on a display screen 208,a user has the option of having the cell phone 202 vocalize thedisplayed data (which in this example is a phone number “650 555-1234”)in order to be passed by way of a voice channel 210 to the receiver unit204 (in this case another cell phone) or any number of other cell phonesor compatible personal communication devices.

Once received at the cell phone 204, processing of the vocalized datacan be performed based upon a prompted user request or based upon apre-selected protocol. For example, once received at the cell phone 204,the vocalized phone number can be passed to an audio output device 212that (in the case of a speaker) generates an audible rendition of thevocalized phone number. In another case (shown in FIG. 3), the vocalizedphone number is forwarded to a voice mail server 300 where the receiverrecords the vocalized phone number as a voice mail message forsubsequent playback. It should be noted that in this case, the sendercan pre-select this option for those cases where the sender wishes togenerate a simple text message and instead of having the text messagedisplayed on the receiver's display screen, the vocalized text messageis stored in the receiver's voice mail server.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart illustrating a particular process 400 fortransferring multimedia data over a voice channel in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. Accordingly, at 402, voice channel isopened or otherwise made available for transmission of the multimediadata. At 404, multimedia data is displayed on a display screen. In thedescribed embodiment, various user selectable icons are available forselecting some or all of the displayed multimedia data. For example, ifthe displayed multimedia data is textual in nature (such as a phonenumber or short test message), a pointer can be used to point to andselect the portion of the text to send. Therefore, at 406 a userselection of the displayed multimedia data (or portion thereof) isreceived along with a user prompt at 408 that causes the cell phone tovocalize the selected multimedia data in preparation for transmissionover the available voice channel. At 410, the selected multimedia datais vocalized and transmitted over the voice channel at 412 to a receiverunit.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart detailing a process 500 for receiving vocalizedmultimedia data in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Theprocess 500 begins at 502 by receiving the vocalized multimedia dataover the voice channel. If, at 504, it is determined that there is nofurther processing, then the process 500 stops, otherwise, the vocalizedmultimedia data is further processed at 506. By further processing, itis meant that once the vocalized multimedia data is received, there areany number of additional processing that can be performed, such aspassing the vocalized multimedia data to an output audio device (such asa speaker, headphone jack, etc.) for conversion to an audible version ofthe vocalized multimedia data. In some cases, default additionalprocessing can be performed whereby any vocalized multimedia datareceived is automatically converted back to text and displayed and/orconverted to an audible message.

For example, FIG. 6 shows a flowchart detailing a process 600 forforwarding the vocalized multimedia data to a voicemail server inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. The process 600 beginsat 602 by (optionally) displaying the vocalized multimedia data andforwarding the vocalized multimedia data to a voice mail server at 604and updating a voice mail indicator at 606 indicating that a new voicemail message has been recorded.

While this invention has been described in terms of a preferredembodiment, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents thatfall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted thatthere are many alternative ways of implementing both the process andapparatus of the present invention. It is therefore intended that theinvention be interpreted as including all such alterations,permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scopeof the present invention.

1. A method of transferring multimedia data between personalcommunication devices without a backend server, comprising: vocalizingthe multimedia data by a first personal communication device; passingthe vocalized multimedia data to a second personal communication deviceusing only a voice channel; and receiving the vocalized multimedia databy the second personal communication device.
 2. A method as recited inclaim 1, further comprising; displaying a user activated selection toolfor selecting the multimedia data by the first personal communicationdevice; receiving a user generated selection prompt indicating themultimedia data to be vocalized; and receiving a user generateddisposition prompt indicating the disposition of the vocalizedmultimedia data by the receiving personal communication device.
 3. Amethod as recited in claim 2, wherein the disposition of the vocalizedmultimedia data comprises: displaying the vocalized multimedia data bythe receiving personal communication device; converting the vocalizedmultimedia data to an audible signal; passing the audible signal to anaudio output device; and outputting the audible signal corresponding tothe vocalized multimedia data.
 4. A method as recited in claim 2,wherein the disposition of the vocalized multimedia data comprises:opening a channel to a voice mail server by the receiving personalcommunication device; forwarding the vocalized multimedia data to thevoice mail server by way of the channel; storing the vocalizedmultimedia data by the voice mail server; and updating a voice mailindicator at the receiving personal communication device.
 5. A method asrecited in claim 1 wherein the personal communication device is a cellphone or a personal digital assistant.
 6. A method as recited in claim 1wherein the multimedia data is a text message.
 7. A consumer productsuitable transferring multimedia data between personal communicationdevices without a backend server, comprising: a memory device arrangedto store the multimedia data; a display coupled to the memory devicesuitable for displaying the multimedia data; a wireless interfacearranged to establish a voice channel between the consumer product andany of the personal communication devices; an audio output device foroutputting an audible signal; and a processor arranged to fetch themultimedia data from the memory, vocalize the multimedia data and passthe vocalized multimedia data to the wireless interface thatsubsequently passes the vocalized multimedia data by way of the voicechannel to at least one of the personal communication devices.
 8. Aconsumer product as recited in claim 7, further comprising: a graphicaluser interface displayed on the display.
 9. A consumer product asrecited in claim 8, wherein the graphical user interface comprises: auser activated selection tool for selecting the multimedia data to bevocalized; and an interactive disposition prompt arranged to indicatethe disposition of the vocalized multimedia data by the receivingpersonal communication device.
 10. A consumer product as recited inclaim 9, wherein a receiving personal communication device comprises: areceiving personal communication device display screen; a receivingpersonal communication device wireless interface arranged to establishreceive the vocalized multimedia data by way of the voice channel; and areceiving personal communication device processor arranged todisposition the received vocalized multimedia data as indicated by theinteractive disposition prompt.
 11. A consumer product as recited inclaim 10, wherein the receiving personal communication device processordispositions the vocalized multimedia data by converting the vocalizedmultimedia data to an audible signal corresponding to the vocalizedmultimedia data and passing the audible signal to the audio outputdevice that, in turn, outputs the audible signal.
 12. A consumer productas recited in claim 10, wherein the receiving personal communicationdevice processor dispositions the vocalized multimedia data by opening achannel to a voice mail server, forwarding the vocalized multimedia datato the voice mail server, and updating a voice mail indicator.
 13. Aconsumer product as recited in claim 7 wherein the consumer product is acell phone or a personal digital assistant.
 14. A consumer product asrecited in claim 7 wherein the multimedia data is a text message. 15.Computer program product executable by a processor for transferringmultimedia data between personal communication devices without a backendserver, comprising: computer code for vocalizing the multimedia data bya first personal communication device; computer code for passing thevocalized multimedia data to a second personal communication deviceusing only a voice channel; computer code for receiving the vocalizedmultimedia data by the second personal communication device; andcomputer readable medium for storing the computer code.
 16. Computerprogram product as recited in claim 15, further comprising; computercode for displaying a user activated selection tool for selecting themultimedia data by the first personal communication device; computercode for receiving a user generated selection prompt indicating themultimedia data to be vocalized; and computer code for receiving a usergenerated disposition prompt indicating the disposition of the vocalizedmultimedia data by the receiving personal communication device. 17.Computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein the dispositionof the vocalized multimedia data comprises: computer code for displayingthe vocalized multimedia data by the receiving personal communicationdevice; computer code for converting the vocalized multimedia data to anaudible signal; computer code for passing the audible signal to an audiooutput device; and computer code for outputting the audible signalcorresponding to the vocalized multimedia data.
 18. Computer programproduct as recited in claim 6, wherein the disposition of the vocalizedmultimedia data comprises: computer code for opening a channel to avoice mail server by the receiving personal communication device;computer code for forwarding the vocalized multimedia data to the voicemail server; computer code for storing the vocalized multimedia data bythe voice mail server; and computer code for updating a voice mailindicator at the receiving personal communication device.
 19. Computerprogram product as recited in claim 15 wherein the personalcommunication device is a cell phone or a personal digital assistant.20. Computer program product as recited in claim 15 wherein themultimedia data is a text message.